May 22nd, 2026
by Chris Smith
by Chris Smith
From Words to Action
There's a profound difference between talking about faith and living it. We can attend church services, quote Scripture, and speak eloquently about God's promises, yet still remain unchanged in how we actually live. The question that confronts us today is simple but piercing: Does our faith produce action, or is it merely something we discuss?
James poses this challenge directly: "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?" He paints a vivid picture—imagine seeing someone without food or clothing, offering them warm wishes and pleasant words, but providing nothing tangible to meet their need. What value does that faith hold? James concludes bluntly: faith without works is dead and useless.
This isn't about earning salvation through good deeds. Salvation comes through grace alone, by faith in Christ's finished work on the cross. But genuine faith—the kind that truly transforms—cannot remain passive. It moves us. It changes how we live, what we prioritize, and how we engage with the world around us.
Faith Rooted in Eternity
One of the most transformative aspects of authentic faith is its eternal perspective. Hebrews 11 speaks of people who "died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it from a distance and welcomed it."
These believers understood something we often miss: this life isn't all there is. When our faith is anchored in eternity rather than the temporary, everything changes. We make different decisions. We hold possessions more loosely. We endure rejection and hardship with greater resilience. We share our faith more boldly because we're not paralyzed by the fear of losing what's temporary.
Think about what happens when eternity comes into focus. Suddenly, that rejection from a coworker when you mention Jesus doesn't sting quite as much. The financial sacrifice required to be generous becomes easier. The call to step out in obedience, even when it doesn't make practical sense, becomes clearer. When we're living for a heavenly homeland, we're no longer enslaved to chasing earthly comfort.
Trusting God's Plan Over Our Own
Abraham's story offers one of the most challenging examples of faith in Scripture. God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars, then finally gave him Isaac in his old age. Just when the promise seemed to be taking shape, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.
What would possess someone to obey such a command? Abraham's faith wasn't rooted in his expectations or his carefully constructed plans. It was rooted in God's character and God's plan. He believed that even if Isaac died, God could raise him from the dead. Abraham trusted that God's plan was better than anything he could imagine, even when it made absolutely no sense.
How often do we hold tightly to our version of how things should unfold? We pray, we plan, we strategize—and these aren't wrong. But when God's path diverges from ours, do we have the faith to follow Him anyway? True faith means surrendering our blueprint and trusting the Master Architect.
Faith With No Idols
Isaac could easily have become Abraham's idol. He was the miracle child, the long-awaited fulfillment of God's promise. Yet God called Abraham to place Isaac on the altar, not because God delights in sacrifice, but because He wanted Abraham to understand where his ultimate trust lay.
What has God given you that could become an idol? A relationship? A career? Financial security? A ministry? Even good gifts can become obstacles to faith when we cling to them more tightly than we cling to the Giver. Faith in God means He alone occupies the throne of our hearts—not the blessings He provides.
Faith That Spans Generations
Jacob blessed future generations. Joseph gave instructions about his bones being carried to the Promised Land—before he even died. These men understood that faith isn't just about the present moment. It's about building something that outlasts us.
Every decision we make ripples into the future. The faith we demonstrate today shapes what our children and grandchildren will inherit. This means our choices about where we live, how we spend our money, what we prioritize, and how we respond to God's call all carry generational weight.
There's a historical account of cathedral builders planting trees they would never see fully grown, knowing that future generations would need that timber to complete the construction. That's generational thinking. That's faith that extends beyond our own lifetime.
Faith That Overcomes Fear
Moses' parents hid him despite Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew babies. They "were not afraid of the king's edict." Fear is a natural human response, but faith provides the courage to act despite it.
What has fear prevented you from doing? Sharing your faith with a family member? Stepping into a new role? Making a financial commitment? Moving to a new place? Faith doesn't eliminate fear—it overcomes it. We don't know what lies ahead, but we trust the One who does.
The church desperately needs people who overcome fear through faith. Not reckless people, but courageous ones who trust God enough to step forward even when the path isn't clear.
Faith That Fixes Our Eyes
Moses "kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible." Despite the king's anger, despite opposition, despite circumstances that screamed "turn back," Moses stayed focused on God.
Where are your eyes fixed? On your inadequacies? On the obstacles in your path? On what you lack? Or on the One who called you, the One who promises to equip you, the One who never fails?
Faith fixes our gaze on Christ. And when we're looking at Him, the giants in our path don't seem quite so large anymore.
Faith Uses Ordinary People
Gideon was afraid. Barak was hesitant. Samson was prideful. David gave in to lust. Yet God used them all. Why? Because faith doesn't require perfection—it requires willingness.
You might look in the mirror and see someone too ordinary, too flawed, too limited to be used by God. But God specializes in using ordinary people who trust Him. He's not looking for the super-spiritual elite. He's looking for available hearts.
The Call to Action
So where does this leave us? With a choice. We can continue to speak about faith while our lives remain unchanged, or we can allow our faith to produce the fruit it was designed to create.
What has God called you to that you've set aside? What step of obedience have you delayed? What promise have you stopped believing? Today can be the day you respond—not in your own strength, but by placing your faith firmly in the One who calls, equips, and completes what He begins.
Faith that changes the world isn't reserved for biblical heroes. It's available to anyone who will trust God enough to take the next step. The question is: will you?
James poses this challenge directly: "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?" He paints a vivid picture—imagine seeing someone without food or clothing, offering them warm wishes and pleasant words, but providing nothing tangible to meet their need. What value does that faith hold? James concludes bluntly: faith without works is dead and useless.
This isn't about earning salvation through good deeds. Salvation comes through grace alone, by faith in Christ's finished work on the cross. But genuine faith—the kind that truly transforms—cannot remain passive. It moves us. It changes how we live, what we prioritize, and how we engage with the world around us.
Faith Rooted in Eternity
One of the most transformative aspects of authentic faith is its eternal perspective. Hebrews 11 speaks of people who "died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it from a distance and welcomed it."
These believers understood something we often miss: this life isn't all there is. When our faith is anchored in eternity rather than the temporary, everything changes. We make different decisions. We hold possessions more loosely. We endure rejection and hardship with greater resilience. We share our faith more boldly because we're not paralyzed by the fear of losing what's temporary.
Think about what happens when eternity comes into focus. Suddenly, that rejection from a coworker when you mention Jesus doesn't sting quite as much. The financial sacrifice required to be generous becomes easier. The call to step out in obedience, even when it doesn't make practical sense, becomes clearer. When we're living for a heavenly homeland, we're no longer enslaved to chasing earthly comfort.
Trusting God's Plan Over Our Own
Abraham's story offers one of the most challenging examples of faith in Scripture. God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars, then finally gave him Isaac in his old age. Just when the promise seemed to be taking shape, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.
What would possess someone to obey such a command? Abraham's faith wasn't rooted in his expectations or his carefully constructed plans. It was rooted in God's character and God's plan. He believed that even if Isaac died, God could raise him from the dead. Abraham trusted that God's plan was better than anything he could imagine, even when it made absolutely no sense.
How often do we hold tightly to our version of how things should unfold? We pray, we plan, we strategize—and these aren't wrong. But when God's path diverges from ours, do we have the faith to follow Him anyway? True faith means surrendering our blueprint and trusting the Master Architect.
Faith With No Idols
Isaac could easily have become Abraham's idol. He was the miracle child, the long-awaited fulfillment of God's promise. Yet God called Abraham to place Isaac on the altar, not because God delights in sacrifice, but because He wanted Abraham to understand where his ultimate trust lay.
What has God given you that could become an idol? A relationship? A career? Financial security? A ministry? Even good gifts can become obstacles to faith when we cling to them more tightly than we cling to the Giver. Faith in God means He alone occupies the throne of our hearts—not the blessings He provides.
Faith That Spans Generations
Jacob blessed future generations. Joseph gave instructions about his bones being carried to the Promised Land—before he even died. These men understood that faith isn't just about the present moment. It's about building something that outlasts us.
Every decision we make ripples into the future. The faith we demonstrate today shapes what our children and grandchildren will inherit. This means our choices about where we live, how we spend our money, what we prioritize, and how we respond to God's call all carry generational weight.
There's a historical account of cathedral builders planting trees they would never see fully grown, knowing that future generations would need that timber to complete the construction. That's generational thinking. That's faith that extends beyond our own lifetime.
Faith That Overcomes Fear
Moses' parents hid him despite Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew babies. They "were not afraid of the king's edict." Fear is a natural human response, but faith provides the courage to act despite it.
What has fear prevented you from doing? Sharing your faith with a family member? Stepping into a new role? Making a financial commitment? Moving to a new place? Faith doesn't eliminate fear—it overcomes it. We don't know what lies ahead, but we trust the One who does.
The church desperately needs people who overcome fear through faith. Not reckless people, but courageous ones who trust God enough to step forward even when the path isn't clear.
Faith That Fixes Our Eyes
Moses "kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible." Despite the king's anger, despite opposition, despite circumstances that screamed "turn back," Moses stayed focused on God.
Where are your eyes fixed? On your inadequacies? On the obstacles in your path? On what you lack? Or on the One who called you, the One who promises to equip you, the One who never fails?
Faith fixes our gaze on Christ. And when we're looking at Him, the giants in our path don't seem quite so large anymore.
Faith Uses Ordinary People
Gideon was afraid. Barak was hesitant. Samson was prideful. David gave in to lust. Yet God used them all. Why? Because faith doesn't require perfection—it requires willingness.
You might look in the mirror and see someone too ordinary, too flawed, too limited to be used by God. But God specializes in using ordinary people who trust Him. He's not looking for the super-spiritual elite. He's looking for available hearts.
The Call to Action
So where does this leave us? With a choice. We can continue to speak about faith while our lives remain unchanged, or we can allow our faith to produce the fruit it was designed to create.
What has God called you to that you've set aside? What step of obedience have you delayed? What promise have you stopped believing? Today can be the day you respond—not in your own strength, but by placing your faith firmly in the One who calls, equips, and completes what He begins.
Faith that changes the world isn't reserved for biblical heroes. It's available to anyone who will trust God enough to take the next step. The question is: will you?
Posted in Devotions, Discipleship, Encouragement, Perspectives
Posted in Faith, Dangerous Faith, Dangerous Church
Posted in Faith, Dangerous Faith, Dangerous Church
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